Windlass fob weighing anchors



UNrTED sTATEs lPATENT OFFICE.

JoHN M. OBRIEN, or BitUNswiorL` MAINELW WINDLASS FOR WEIGHING ANCHORS;

Specification of Letters Patent N c. 1,003, dated November 9, 1838.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. OBRIEN, of Brunswick, county of Cumberland,and State of Maine, have invented anew and useful Improvement vinWindlasses for Weighing Anchors, Raising Weights, or OvercominResistances;l and I hereby declare that t e following is a full andexact description.

To the barrel of the windlass, suc-h as are in common use or any towhich the improvement is applicable, is attached a ratchet wheel of castiron which may contain twenty four or thirty-two teeth, but I do notlimit myself to any articular number.` The fewer the number o the teeth,the stronger they can be made; and when the wheelis comparatively smalland the resista-nce great, it may be expedient to have but'twenty fourteeth or even a less number. The wheel may be on the larboard orstarboard side'of the windlass, or one at each side,or the wheel may beat any part of the barrel, the fulcrum on `which the lever block movesbeing properly sustained by posts or bitts. The wheel may be placedinside or outside the bitts, adjoining to or near the same, but as Iprefer to have it inside, I shall describe it as so placed. When thewheel is in place on the barrel, the teeth `incline from base to pointtoward the stern of the vessel. The diameter of the wheel should begreater than that of the barrel, if practicable and convenient, andabout three inches thick, more or less as the amount ofresistance maydemand. The

wheel should be set on to the 4barrel so far as to leave, on the sidenext the bitts, a small space between the wheel and the bitts for theplates or checks of one side of the hooks, hereafter described; and(provided the wheel should not project suiiiciently from the barrel) thebarrel on the other side of the wheel should be cut away circularlyadjoining the wheel, so as to make a narrow groove allowing the platesof the other side of the hooks to fall down or enter in said groove farenough for the round bolt, hereafter described, to catch in the teeth ofthe wheel. Y

In the drawings which accompany and make part of this specification, theform of the wheel is shown at Figures 2 and 3, having an octagonalinterior rim or hole to fit to the barrel of the windlass, the latterVbeing cut into a proper shape to receive it.

`dle or lower hole.

cave excavation being such as just to allow a free motion or revolutionof the bolt and no more. The depth of excavation and the cur vature ofthe teeth should be such as to give strength to the teeth, and retainthe bolt, but

any excess beyond this is injurious. Should this improvement be used inconnection `with the cast iron barrel of a windlass, the wheel `mayprobably be cast at the same time with At Fig. 4, is shown thevoutlineof a tooth Y the barrel andbe part of it; or the wheel i may beseparated and adjusted to the barrel.

Two posts are to be inserted in the deck of the vessel, one abaft andthe other forward of the windlass, as shown in Fig. 1, at such distancefrom the bitts as to allow the leverblocks and hooks, hereafterdescribed,

to play freely between the posts and bitts; and the posts should be atsuch distance from the barrels as4 the length of the hooks, or theposition of the lever blocks may require. Fig. l, indicates a part of aVwindlass A extending from one ofthe bitts to the pawl bitt, and alsothe holes in the posts through which pass the pins on which the leverblocks turn. The pins should enter the posts and bitts through metallicplates or boxes to prevent the wear of the bearings.

' The lever `blocks are of iron. The form of the aft lever block isshown at A, Fig. 2. The small open circles denote holes through whichpasses the fulcrum pin. The blocks are placed between the posts and thebitts. If the fulcrum pin passes through `the upper hole the operato-rexerts more power than he would if the p-in passed through the middle orlower hole. When more speed is required, the fulcrum pin is to beinserted at the mid- Vhen t-he number of teeth in the wheel is twentyfour (which is the number intended to be indicated by the Figs. 2 and 3)and the fulcrum pin is so placed that a quarter revolution of thehandspike causes an advance of but one tooth, the power of the operatoris sixfold more than that of a man at the common windlass; and where theteeth arev thirty two,

a similar advance ofbut one tooth gives an eight fold power. Theproportions I intend The folded part of the cover extends beyond theincluded metal, forming a cavity y or socket in which to insert ahandspike for at A Fig. 2, were more obtuse the handspike the purpose,as hereinafter described, of actuating the blocks, Y*hooks and wheel.Instead of the above method, the blocks with their sockets may be ofcast iron, cast in the proper form. vIt is intended to have thehandspike vertical, or nearly so, at the bej ginning of the stroke, butany required direction may be given to 1t by altering the angle of theblock. For instance, if theangle instead of being vertical would inclineaft. It is intended that the handspike shall traverse about a quarter ofa circle. yWhen the line of traction, by which I niean a line ,exetending from the bolt to the pin connecting the hook and block, istangential to the periphery of the wheel, and said line is also at rightangles to the line of fulcrum holes, the stroke is considered as halfaccomplished. It is my opinion, however, that thestrain on theA teethwould be more favorable to their strength by an arrangement somewhatdifferent. To illustrate my idea, suppose the aft handspike to be at themiddleV of' the stroke, and the line of traction tangential to thewheel. Now, if the hook were longer, or the block were placed nearer thewheel, so that the bolt, at the middle of the'stroke, should extend onetoeth more on to the wheel, it is obviousthatat the termination ofthestroke, the traction would be more across the wheel than wouldotherwisebe the case, and I think the strain on the tooth would be morefavorable. Further @XPerience, however, must., Ldetermine which methodwill be the best in practice. At the beginning ofthe stroke thehandspikeis about one eighth of a circle, or 45 degrees, from itspositionat the middle of the stroke, andat the completion of the strokeit is, but in a different direction, another eighth from its middle lineof fulcrum hole at such an angle to the line of traction, and the blocksmust be at such distance from the wheel, that a quarter circle may bedescribed by the handspike without the plates, at the end of the stroke,bearing against the4 fulcrum pin l which passes through the posts,blocks and bitts.

The requisite Obliquity of the line of ful- Vcrum holes to the line oftraction may be obtainedl either by boring said holes in the desiredangular line in the block, at any given position of the hook on thewheel; or

osition. kThe blocks are to have the any given -line of fulcrum holesmay, at any given position of the hook and wheel, be

rendered more oblique to the line of traction, by merely removing *to agreater` distance'from the wheel the fulcruin pin passing through thevports, blocks and bitts; but

the hook must be made longer in order to be adapted to the .newvposition. I have sometimes caused the line of fulcrum holes to be in thedirection indicated by 2, 3, 4,

Fig. 2, by means ofowhich the handspike at the commencement of thestroke, stands at a Ymore oblique angle to the line of fulcruIn holes,and consequently, as I suppose, requires the block to be at a lessdistance from the wheel than `would otherwise be required.

The aft hook is shown at, a, Figs. l and 2. I have usually made it inlength about three vfourths of the diameter of the wheel, but

do not limit myself to this proportion. The hook consists of two strongiron plates or cheeks through which passes a. round iron or, which isbetter, steel bolt. The bolt is indicated'by Vthe small` black circlesmarked, 1, in Figs. 2, 8 and 6. l/Vhen great strength is required,'thebolt may be an inch in diameter, but the size may be more or less ascircumstances may require. The plates of the hook should be Wide enoughapart, to fall freely and loosely over the ratchet wheel. The boltsshould have shoulders as shown in Fig. 5. The diminished parts near theshoulders pass through holes in: the plates y just large enough toreceive them, and the projecting ends may be battered by hammering, orthe extremities :may be cut into screws and nuts screwed on theprojecting ends. Care should be takento cut away spaces in the bitstoallowfree action to the nuts and projecting shoulders when the ;wheeldoesvnot stand'far enough 0H from the bitts to allow such action. Thebolt is to be prevented from` turningby a small steady pin locking itwith the plates. ,The block being placed'between the plates, whichshould be wide enough apart to permit it to more freely between them, apin connects the hook and block fby passing through the .holes of theplates and block, and the ends of the bins may beV battered or properlysecured. The pins should be of Steel or suficiently strong material.

Fig. 2, shows a ,view of the blocks, hooks andwheel in connection, andthe spring acting against the roller of the fore hook.

lV hen the fulcrum pin is inserted in the fulcrum hole of; the post andblock with yreference to speed, it is called the long purchase, and thepin isinserted in the hole nearest the socket; when said pin is insertedwith reference to power, 1t is fcalled the short purchase, and the pinis insertedin the hole nearest the pin connecting the hook and block.The middle purchase is a medium between the others.

llO

In Fig. l, the pin is inserted at the long purchase in the aft post, andat the middle purchase in the fore post.

As the law requires the patentee to explain the several modes `in whichhe has contemplated the application of the principle I will furtherstate that the Obliquity of the line of traction to the line of fulcrumholes may be made such that at the commencement of the stroke they maybe nearly in a line. The result of such an arrangement, it is conceived,would be `that there would be a great initial force to overcome the @isinertia at the beginning, and that at the completion of the stroke, theline traction would be but little past the point at which it would betangential to the periphery of the wheel or at which it would be atright angles with the line of fulcrum holes.

The forward or fore block is composed of iron and an iron envelop, or ofcast iron, similarly to the aft one, but is of a different shape, as maybe seen in Fig. 2, where the handspike is inserted in its appropriatesocket. The fulcrum pin which passes through the forepost, block andinto the bitts, is to be inserted according to the purchase intended tobe taken. The block and hook are connected by a pin as shown in Fig. 2.

The fore hook is composed, similarly to the aftone, of a bolt and of twoplates wide enough apart to allow the block to move freely-between them.The form of the fore hook is'shown at Fig. 2, where the small blackcircle, 1,indicates the bolt, the small black circle, 3, the hookholethrough which passes the pin connecting the `hook and block. Thesmall black circle, 2, indi- Cates a roller which receives the action ofthe spring, the latter being made narrow enough to act between theplates of the hook. The spring maybe of steel, wood, iron or othersuitable material. The fore hook is pendent and is forced against theteeth of the wheel bythe spring.

Fig. 2, shows the fore block with the handspike inserted and theposition of one of the forms of the spring which is screwed or fastenedt0 the deck; but I do not limit myself to any particular form of springwhich obviously may be extensively varied. I have sometimes used acounter weight instead of a spring, as shown in Fig. 6, but a spring ispreferable, especially at sea. The fore hook as above described, ispulled when in operation, but it may be made to act as a pusher, inwhich case the spring may be dispensed with. Fig. 3, shows how this maybe effected, and it also shows how the aft hook may be made to act as apusher by the aid of a spring; but as these arrangements are consideredto be inferior to those already described, any further des` scription ofthem is not deemed necessary or useful. Should they, however, be used,the pushers or ratchets should be of such length as not to interfere,should an aft pulling hook and a fore pusher be used.

Between the posts and the bitts may be short Vposts to limit `thedownward stroke of the handspike. It is desirable to have the short ostslimit the stroke both at Athe long and s ort purchases, and this may beaccomplished in the followingmanner. When the handspike has completedits stroke at the short purchase, and is resting on the short post, ifthe holes for the other pur? chases be then made through the postexactly opposite to the corresponding holes of the block as it will thenbe situated, one short post will answer for all the purchases.

. Another, and perhaps a more accurate, arrangement, is to cause all thefulcrum post holes to be made when the stroke is half completed and tolimit the downward strokes by movable pins inserted through the postsand bitts, the pin being adjusted as each purchase may require. Thepins, as well as the short osts, limit the stroke by Abeing placed uncer some part of the block and acting as a check or bar to its furthermotion. The posts and bitts should be wide orbroad enough to allow pinsto be inserted, extending from the post to the bitt (when pins are used)and if an should not be thus wide or broad, an a ditional vertical pieceshould be attached to the end of the bitt. 1

I rely on the ordinary pawls, as commonly used on a ships windlass, toprevent a recoil.

The operation of the machine is as followsz'The handspike, inserted inthe socket of the block, being elevated from a depressed position,slides over the teeth of the wheel, andbeing again depressed, the boltcatches in the teeth and causes a partial revolution. Being againelevated it slides as before and being depressed, the wheel is againpropelled, and so on. `For the convenience of having a distinctive name,the machine is denominated the Brunswick Purchase.

This machine may be used for other puroses than for ships windlasses, byconnecting the barrel by means of chains or cordage,

with the object whose resistance is to be overcome, and insuch cases thewheel should have a pawl or pawls. It may also serve as a press bycausing a pinion on the same shaft with the wheel to mesh into a rackimpelling a platen or pressing surface'.-

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent thefollowing points:

1.V I claim the mode of forming or constructing the ratchet wheel to beacted'upon by a round bolt or pin, confined between cheeks, or standingat right angles from a` bar, as set forth, in combination WithV aWindlass or other analogous machine for raising Weights or overcomingresistances.

2. I claim the method, as above described of varying power and speed, asapplied, to Windlasses.

3. I claim the lever blocks as above described and all equivalentarrangements With mere circumstantial variations.

4c.' I claim the fore and aft hooks or ratchets, as pushers, asdescribed, and combined of a ratchet Wheel by hooks, hands, catches,ratches or ratchets other than vthose above 15 described, nor do I claimexcept as above claimed, together with all such variations of theforegoing as are substantially the same in principle and operation. Y

Dated at Washington this fourteenth day 20 of August A. D. 1888.

JOHN M. OBRIEN.

Witnesses:

GEO. C. WHITING, HUGH B. SWEENY.

